The Second Doctor Who Monster Book

by Terrance Dicks

Here in the second Doctor Who Monster Book is the story of the new Doctor in his fourth most exciting incarnation. How and why he changed his form... the story of his companions, adventures and, above all, the fresh array of monstrous enemies he encountered on the way.

Genres: Doctor Who

64 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 1978

About the author

Terrance Dicks was an English author, screenwriter, script editor, and producer best known for his extensive contributions to Doctor Who. Serving as the show's script editor from 1968 to 1974, he helped shape many core elements of the series, including the concept of regeneration, the development of the Time Lords, and the naming of the Doctor’s home planet, Gallifrey. His tenure coincided with major thematic expansions, and he worked closely with producer Barry Letts to bring a socially aware tone to the show. Dicks later wrote several Doctor Who serials, including Robot, Horror of Fang Rock, and The Five Doctors, the 20th-anniversary special.
In parallel with his television work, Dicks became one of the most prolific writers of Doctor Who novelisations for Target Books, authoring over 60 titles and serving as the de facto editor of the range. These adaptations introduced a generation of young readers to the franchise. Beyond Doctor Who, he also wrote original novels, including children’s horror and adventure series such as The Baker Street Irregulars, Star Quest, and The Adventures of Goliath.
Dicks also worked on other television programmes including The Avengers, Moonbase 3, and various BBC literary adaptations. His later work included audio dramas and novels tied to Doctor Who. Widely respected for his clarity, imagination, and dedication to storytelling, he remained a central figure in Doctor Who fandom until his death in 2019, leaving behind a vast legacy in television and children's literature.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well hello there little book I have owned since 1977, how are you? You have stopped me sorting the shelves with your stories of the Doctors battle with some scary monsters.

There you are all read again.

[Nicholas Whyte]

http://nhw.livejournal.com/1073468.html#cutid1[return][return]The Second Doctor Who Monster Book, from 1977, is simply a very brief retelling of the stories from the first three Fourth Doctor seasons, from Robot to The Talons of Weng Chiang. It is prefaced by character sketches of the Fourth Doctor and Harry, Sarah and Leela, which are I guess potentially important source material for interested fic writers. There are copious illustrations - mostly black and white photos with a few colour two-page spreads. Mostly the choice of pictures is good though there are some very odd exceptions - the illustrations for Revenge of the Cybermen appear to be in fact from Tomb of the Cybermen, and in one or two other cases we just have the book cover. Still, as an update to The Making of Doctor Who it must have served a purpose.